Difference between revisions of "Abortion and the Bible"
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| − | [[Abortion]], the termination of a pregnancy | + | [[Abortion]], the intentional termination of a pregnancy, is opposed by virtually all [[conservatives]] and devout [[Christians]]. There are numerous references in the Bible to an unborn child in the womb as a unique person. |
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| + | The best that a supporter of abortion can do in citing the Bible is to refer to Exodus 21:22-25, which imposes a penalty to be determined by the father for an ''accidental'' miscarriage caused by striking a pregnant woman:<ref>New American Standard Version</ref> | ||
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| + | :And if men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she has a miscarriage, yet there is no further injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman's husband may demand of him; and he shall pay as the judges decide. But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise. | ||
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| + | This passage is taken as an injunction by [[God]] against the killing of an fetus,<ref>[http://www.abortion-and-bible.com/#chratt C. Ratt, A Christian View of Abortion]</ref> while others note that the punishment proscribed by God for this ''accidental'' killing of an unborn child is much less severe that the punishment proscribed for the ''intentional'' murder of another human being (as in Exodus 21:12). | ||
==Denominational stances on abortion== | ==Denominational stances on abortion== | ||
| − | As of 2006, the | + | As of 2006, the [[liberal]] General Assembly of the [[Presbyterian]] Church (USA) is officially [[pro-choice]], though maintains "grave moral concern" in regard to [[late-term abortion]].<ref>[http://www.pcusa.org/101/101-abortion.htm Presbyterian 101: A General Guide to Facts About PCUSA]</ref> |
| − | The [[Catholic]] Church | + | The [[Catholic]] Church has always opposed all abortion.<ref>[http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=351 The Pew Forum: Religious Groups’ Official Positions on Abortion]</ref> |
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 00:56, March 6, 2009
Abortion, the intentional termination of a pregnancy, is opposed by virtually all conservatives and devout Christians. There are numerous references in the Bible to an unborn child in the womb as a unique person.
The best that a supporter of abortion can do in citing the Bible is to refer to Exodus 21:22-25, which imposes a penalty to be determined by the father for an accidental miscarriage caused by striking a pregnant woman:[1]
- And if men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she has a miscarriage, yet there is no further injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman's husband may demand of him; and he shall pay as the judges decide. But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.
This passage is taken as an injunction by God against the killing of an fetus,[2] while others note that the punishment proscribed by God for this accidental killing of an unborn child is much less severe that the punishment proscribed for the intentional murder of another human being (as in Exodus 21:12).
Denominational stances on abortion
As of 2006, the liberal General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) is officially pro-choice, though maintains "grave moral concern" in regard to late-term abortion.[3]
The Catholic Church has always opposed all abortion.[4]
External links
A comprehensive list of denominational stances on abortion